{"id":15911,"date":"2021-02-17T11:52:08","date_gmt":"2021-02-17T11:52:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/11host.me\/stmary\/?p=15911"},"modified":"2022-12-30T17:21:45","modified_gmt":"2022-12-30T17:21:45","slug":"ash-wednesday-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/11host.me\/stmary\/ash-wednesday-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Ash Wednesday at Home"},"content":{"rendered":"
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How<\/span> to celebrate Ash We<\/span>\"\"dnesday at Home as suggested by Cardinal Nichols:<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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My suggestion is this: celebrate Ash Wednesday at home, with your family, in the household or \u2018support bubble\u2019 of which you are a part. Gather for a while. Read the prayer which I offer. Bless each other by making the sign of the cross on each other\u2019s forehead. Spend some time praying in a way that you know. But please, make this a prayer of your heart for God\u2019s mercy upon this world struggling to cope with the terrible pandemic and the devastation it is bringing.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Lenten Prayer: Lord God, With all our hearts we beseech you: have mercy on your people; spare your people;<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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strengthen all people in the struggle against the havoc of this pandemic.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Lord our God, without you we are so weak and our courage so limited.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Give us your strength; give us your love; give us wisdom and skill to continue this fight.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Spare your people, O Lord we pray.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Comfort those who mourn and g<\/span>ather into your kingdom all who have died.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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We make this prayer through Christ our Lord, who died and rose to life,<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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who lives and reigns with you, for ever and ever.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Amen.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Blessing: bless each other, using one of the two traditional formulas: \u2018Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return\u2019. Or: \u2018Repent, and believe in the Gospel\u2019.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Then continue with your own prayers.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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As a child, my mother or father used to come to my bedside each night to settle me for sleep. I was kissed goodnight and then, either my Mum or Dad would make the sign of the cross on my forehead. They gave me their blessing. This brought me such security. I remember it to this day. Then I slept in peace.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Bless each other! So please do not hesitate, within your household or \u2018bubble\u2019, to bless each other on this Ash Wednesday. We do well to remember together our need of the good Lord. Together, and through each other, he wants to comfort and reassure us of <\/span>his loving presence. If, on this day, we set aside every pretence that we can do everything of ourselves, then we create in our hearts and lives the space for God\u2019s grace and strength to find a home in us.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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This is the great invitation of Ash Wednesday and of the weeks of Lent which follow. Please do take up this invitation. Open your hearts to the gift of God\u2019s presence to support, comfort and strengthen you. This year, it may be best to do this, not by going to church, but by sharing the prayer, the blessing and this moment of dedication within the love of your family and friends.Please do include me in your prayers, too.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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May God bless you all,<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Cardinal Vincent Nichols<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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President, Catholic Bishops\u2019 Conference of England and Wales<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Archbishop of Westminster<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Ash Wednesday @ Home: <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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1. Gather together and start with the Sign of the Cross.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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2. Read the Gospel for today. It is from St Matthew\u2019s Gospel, 6: 1-6 and 16-18.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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3. Say together our Lenten prayer for this year.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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4. Make the Sign of the Cross on each other\u2019s forehead, using the words you choose.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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5. Pray together: the Our Father; the Hail Mary; each one with his or her own prayer or intention.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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6. Conclude with the \u2018Glory be to the Father\u2026\u2019<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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7. Give each other a sign of peace.
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Click below<\/a> for a booklet of prayers for Ash Wednesday:<\/div>\n
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Click below<\/a> for a mini retreat for Ash Wednesday:<\/div>\n
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How to celebrate Ash Wednesday at Home as suggested by Cardinal Nichols:   My suggestion is this: celebrate Ash Wednesday at home, with your family, in the household or \u2018support…<\/p>\n

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